Suspected drug dealers busted

CAMP MAKABULOS, Tarlac — An illegal drug syndicate suspected to be composed of youngsters was busted over the weekend when lawmen swooped on its alleged hideout in a remote village of the province.

Chief Inspector Ernesto Paala, police chief of Camiling town, identified the local leader of the alleged criminal gang as Marcelo Dagan, 48, whose home in Barangay Cacamilingan Sur in Camiling was raided Sunday afternoon.

The police assault led to the confiscation of about P10,000 worth of metamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known in the streets as shabu and ice, a tooter used to sniff the addictive substance, spatula, a weighing scale and plastic sachets being used to repack the illegal drug.

Authorities also found two fan knives and a fully-loaded caliber .38 revolver.

Arrested were alleged members of Dagan’s syndicate, namely Liza Rodriguez, 25, and her younger sister, Cindy, 23, from Caloocan City; Samantha Malibay, a native of Southern Leyte; and Marcelino Bermudo, 19, of Barangay Pinasling, Gerona, Tarlac.

Paala suspects that the Rodriguez sisters have contacts with Manila-based drug syndicates for the distribution of illegal drugs in the western and northern towns of Tarlac.

The raid was covered by a search warrant issued by Camiling Judge Luisito Adaog and was witnessed by Cacamilingan Sur village chief, Arturo Cruz.

Yesterday morning, Camiling police operatives further pounced on the home of Boye Dagan, 25, younger brother of the alleged local drug lord, in Barangay Surgui. Found in his possession were undisclosed amount of shabu and dried marijuana leaves.